Cannula-directed hypodermic needle



Feb- 2, 1960 F. D. c. GUERRIERQ 2,923,295

CANNULA-DIRECTED HYPODERMIC NEEDLE Filed May 22. 1958 United Statespatent CANNULA-DIRECTED HYPODERMIC NEEDLE Federico D. C. Guerriero,Chicago, Ill.

Application May 22, 1958, Serial No. 737,113

8 Claims. (Cl. 12S-215) This invention relates generally to medicalhypodermic needles and more particularly to medical hypodermic needleswhich may be safely utilized for para-cavitary injection and forinjection to, or drainage from, heretofore inaccessible body areas.

The use of hypodermic needles and syringes in connection therewith isold and well-known in the science of medicine. It is also well-knownthat such needles can be safely used only at external body surfaces orat internal portions of the body which are directly accessible, such asthe gums of the mouth.

`Obviously it is often desirable or even necessary to inject medicineinto or drain poisonous uids from portions of the body which are notreadily accessible, such as for example, the larynx, the nose and sinuscavities, the vaginal cavity and the anal canal. In such cases, theusual hypodermic needle heretofore employed cannot be used because ofthe limitations of shape and because it would be obviously dangerous tointernally probe blindly with a long sharp needle. As a matter of fact,paracavitary injections are sometimes attempted with long sharp needles.However, precision injection in a pre-selected area is at best haphazardsince accuracy is wellnigh impossible, especially with a long ilexibleneedle aimed at a cavity wall some distance away. To my knowledge, nomedical instrument has yet been provided which can serve this purpose.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide amedical hypodermic needle which will overcome all of the diicultiesmentioned hereinabove. A related object is to alford an elongatedhypodermic needle capable of achieving precision para-cavitaryinjections.

The use of cannulae is likewise well-known to the medical art.Heretofore, they have been used primarily to transmit medication into,or drain uids out of, an internal body cavity. Depending on the materialof construction used, they could be shaped and then inserted tovirtually any place in the body. For example, a rubber or plasticcannula is often inserted through the nostrils and down into the stomachfor drainage purposes. While.

properly shaped and constructed cannulae could be safely inserted intovirtually any normally accessible part of the body, they obviously wereneither intended or capable of performing the functions-of a hypodermicneedle.

It is therefore another important object of the invention to afford anelongated hypodermic needle and cannula so combined that the needle maybe directed to heretofore inaccessible body areas, such as the remotewalls of any of the body cavities.

Another object is to provide a hypodermic needle of the characterdescribed in which the needle-directing cannula may be pre-shaped intovirtually any form depending upon the position of the target of the bodywherein the injection is to be made. An object relating thereto is tomake the cannula of a readily deformable material through which a exibleneedle may be freely reciprocated.

A further object is to alford a hypodermic needle o f the 'ice characterdescribed in which the plunger action of the needle is independent ofthe syringe action whereby the doctor may concentrate all of his elortsand attention on making an accurate injection.

Still another object is to provide a hypodermic needle of the characterdescribed in which the cannula acts as a reinforcing or support memberthereby enabling the use of elongated flexible needles.

Yet another object is to afford a hypodermic needle of the characterdescribed in which the needle is controlled by a plunger rod which maybe rotatably mounted in the device to better accommodate the same to thehand of the user thereby facilitating the use thereof.

Still a further object is to provide a hypodermic needle of thecharacter described which is simply constructed and easy to operate, yetis safe and effective.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel featuresof construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details ofthe structure may be made without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I haveillustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof,from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with thefollowing description, my invention, its mode of construction, assemblyand operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understoodand appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference areemployed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout theseveral iigures of the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan View of a hypodermic needle embodying the principles ofmy inventionand showing the same operationally connected to a syringe;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the plane of line 2-2 in Fig. l,viewed in the direction indicated, and partially broken away to showcertain details of construction;v

Fig. 3 is a plan View showing the needle and cannulabarrel without theconnecting tube;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the fragmentary end of thecannula showing the needle therein; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the coupling element and nippleof Fig. 3 showing certain details of construction.

Referring rst to Fig. 1 of the drawings, reference character 10indicates generally a hypodermic needle apparatus embodying theprinciples of my invention. The apparatus 10 comprises generally anelongated hollow cannula tube 12, a handle portion 17, a needle 30, aplunger 32, and a syringe and tubing 49.

Cannula tube 12 may terminate at one of its ends in a spherical-shapedtip 14. The opposite end of the cannula comprises the male portion 16 ofthe usual medical instrument coupling means such as are well known inthe .medical instrument art.

Detachably connected to cannula tube 12 is the handle portion 17. Handle17 comprises a hollow cylindrical l barrel 20, which may taper at thebottom thereof and terminate in a female portion 18 of theabove-described coupling means. Secured near the top of the barrel 20may be oppositely projecting finger grips such as 22 and 24; In the wallof barrel 20 there may be formed a longitudinal slot 26 whose functionwill become apparent as the description proceeds. The barrel portionadjacent the female coupling portion 18 may have a centralneedlereceiving aperture 28 (see Fig. 2),.

The cannula tube 12 may be made of any suitable material and in theembodiment shown is made of a readily deformable metal such as brass orcopper for reasons which will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds. The brass or copper tube is preferably coated or plated with anon-toxic covering, such as chromium. The tube may also be of anydesired length as will be subsequently described.

Removably and reciprocably positioned through the cannula 12 andaperture 28 is an elongated hollow flexible needle 30. The needle 30 maybe removably coupled by means similar to the above-described couplingmeans to the plunger indicated generally by the numeral 32. Plunger 32comprises a female coupling element 34 which may have an integrallyformed nipple 36 extending transversely therefrom. The female couplingelement 34 is adapted to cooperate with a male coupling element 37mounted on the needle 3i) to effect the coupling between the needle andthe plunger. Nipple 36 has a central passage 38 which connects with apassage 40 inside the coupling element 34. Rotatably secured to couplingelement 34 is a plunger rod 42 which may have an integrally formed disc44 at an end thereof. Coupling element 34 may be formed with a cavity 46in which the disc 44 is rotatably positioned. 'The plunger rod 42 mayhave a finger grip such as 4S integrally formed at its free end. Itshould be noted that the rotatable connection indicated permits theplunger rod 42 to readily accommodate itself to the finger motion of theoperator during injec-V tion. In addition, it protects against anyinadvertent and injurious turning of the injected needle.

Removably connected to nipple 36 is the syringe assembly indicatedgenerally by the numeral 49. The syringe assembly 49 may comprise alength of flexible plastic or rubber tubing 50 and a syringe 52 of thetype commonly used in the' medical profession. It is important to notehere that the entirel needle-plungerassembly is removably positionedwithin the barrel 20 with the nipple 36 protruding out through the slot26, thus permitting this assembly to be operationally reciprocated (seeFig. 2).

yIn operation, my hypodermic needle functions in the following manner.Depending upon the area of the body affected, the deformable cannula 12is pre-shaped to conform with that anatomical area. Thus, for example,if an injection is desired to be Vmade deep in the larynx, the cannulamay be sharply bent at almost right angles to conform to the shape ofthe mouth and throat pas- Sage. The device is then operationallyassembled as shown in Fig. l of the drawings with the point of theneedle 30 retracted and sheathed within the cannula. The cannula is theninserted to the desired location. It should be noted that this may besafely done because of the spherical tip 14 on the end of the cannulaand because the needle point is sheathed therein. When the desired pointis reached, the operator then injects the needle into the flesh bypushing the plunger 32. The operator, or a second operator if desired,then manipulates the syringe S2 to inject or extract, as desired, by wayof the passages 38 and V40.

An alternative method of operation may be employed where the toughnessor thickness of a muscular wall so requires. In this method, the cannulais inserted as before. When the target has been neared by the cannulatip, the needle is then ejected to that length with which the doctordesires to penetrate the cavity wall. The entire apparatus is thenjabbed into the cavity wall until the spherical tip abuts the wall. Theinjection or extraction is then made. Thus, the toughest muscular wallmay be penetrated and to the exact depth desired.

From the drawings and description as set forth hereinabove, itrwill beapparent that I have provided a unique, simple but most safe andefectivehypode'rmic needle which can be utilized for para-cavitaryinjections and on anatomical areas heretofore almost inaccessible. Theneed for, and benefits of, such a device are obvious. The cannula may beof any desired length depending on the area of the body to be reached,with the needle being of a corresponding length. The reinforcing effectof the cannula permits the use of elongated flexible needles. Inaddition, my unique needle may be operated by two people. Thus, aperfectly accurate injection is thereby assured. Moreover, where theexact amount to be injected or removed is critical, the second operatormay devote his entire attention to this activity.

As used in this application, it should be understood that the termhypodermic needle includes all needles used for injection into, ordrainage from, an animal body.

lt is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly,and many of its advantages should be readily understood from theforegoing without further description, and it should also be manifestthat while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed for illustrative purposes, the structural details arenevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of myinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

l. In a medical hypodermic apparatus including a syringe; a barrel, anelongated hollow needle, means for reciprocating said needle, saidneedle positioned in said barrel, means for operationally connectingsaid needle to the syringe, and an elongated deformable'cannula tubeconnected to the bottom end of said barrel, said tube adapted to sheathsaid needle so that at least the point thereof may be moved toprotrudevbeyond the bottom end of the tube.

2. In a medical hypodermic apparatus including a syringe; a barrel, anelongated hollow needle, means for reciprocating said needle, saidneedle positioned in said barrel, means for operationally connectingsaid needle to the syringe, and an elongated hollow tube connected tothe bottom end of said barrel, said hollow tube adapted to sheath saidneedle so that at least the point thereof may be moved to protrudebeyond the bottom end of the tube, said hollow tube comprising adeformable cannula tube having an integrally formed spherical tip.

3. The medical hypodermic apparatus of claim 2 in which saidfirst-mentioned means comprises a plunger connected to the needle, saidlatter-mentioned means comprises a coupling element having a fluidpassage communicating with the bore of said needle, a centrally-borednipple extending transversely of said coupling element and communicatingwith said fluid passage, and a length of tubing, said nipple and tubingadapted to cooperate for connecting said coupling element to saidsyringe.

4. The medical yhypodermic apparatus of claim 3 in which said barrelcomprises an elongated hollow cylinder open at the top and having alongitudinal slot in its wall, said slot adapted to reciprocablyaccommodate said nipple, the bottom of said cylinder having a centralneedlereceiving aperture communicating with said cannula tube, and apair of oppositely extending finger grips secured to the cylinder walladjacent its top.

5. The medical hypodermic apparatus of claim 4 in which said plungercomprises a rod having a finger grip at its top and an integrally formeddisc at its bottom, said disc being rotatably mounted in a cavity formedin said coupling element.

6. In a medical hypodermic apparatus including a syringe, a barrel and aplunger; an elongated flexible centrally-bored needle connected to saidplunger and reciprocably positioned in said barrel, means foroperationally connecting said needle to the syringe, and an elongateddeformable cannula tube having a spherical tip connected to the bottomof said barrel, said cannula tube adapted to be pre-bent into anydesired shape for insertion into a body cavity, said cannula tubeaffording a reinforcing sheath for said needle, the relative length ofthe needle and tube being such that a portion of the needle may be movedto protrude from the tube whereby the needle may be injected into a wallof said cavity.

7. In a medical hypodermic apparatus including a syringe, acannula-sheathed elongated needle and a plunger connected to the needle;a transversely-projecting centrally-bored nipple connected to saidneedle, said nipple aording means for operationally connecting saidneedle to said syringe, and a barrel connected to said cannula, saidbarrel comprising an elongated hollow cylinder open at its top andhaving a longitudinal slot in its wall, and a pair of oppositelyextending finger grips secured adjacent the top of said cylinder wall,said needle, plunger and nipple reciprocably positioned in saidcylinder.

8. A medical hypodermic apparatus comprising an elongated hollowcylinder open at its top and having a longitudinal slot in its wall, apair of oppositely extending finger grips secured adjacent the top ofsaid cylinder Wall, a deformable metal cannula tube having a sphericaltip connected to the bottom of said cylinder, an

elongated exible centrally-bored needle, a coupling element connected atits bottom end to said needle, said coupling element having a fluidpassage communicating with the bore of said needle, said couplingelement having an annular cavity in its top end, a plunger rod having anintegrally formed disc at its bottom end rotatably mounted in saidcoupling element cavity, a centrally-bored nipple extending transverselyof said coupling element and communicating with said uid passage, asyringe, and a ilexible tube connecting said syringe to said nipple,said cylinder adapted to reciprocably accommodate said needle, couplingelement, plunger rod and nipple, said cannula tube adapted to bepre-bent into any desired shape for insertion into a body cavity, saidcannula tube affording a reinforcing sheath for said needle, the lengthof said needle exceeding the length of said tube so that the same may bemoved to protrude therefrom for injection into a wall of said cavityafter the cannula tip has reached said wall.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

